Machine for ironing shirt collars

ABSTRACT

A collar-ironing die comprises a plurality of die sections movable relative to one another to fit collars of different size. A flexible band is interposed between several of the die sections and a surface of the collar to be ironed. Another collar surface has another flexible band applied thereto as a counter-die.

United States Patent Revuelta Aug. 26, 1975 [54] MACHINE FOR IRONING SHIRT COLLARS 2,948,441 8/1960 Schultz .7 223/52.l m mm d6 22?:222 241233 ZiZfi.f.1i .111: 25422;:

Madrid, No. 95, 50 Barcelona, Spain Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin [22] Flled: 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; 211 A 434, 91 Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L, Adams [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Jan. 23, 1973 Spain 410889 A collar-ironing die comprises a plurality of die sec- [52] US. Cl. 223/52.l tions movable relative to one another to fit collars of [51] Int. Cl. D06C 15/00 different size. A flexible band is interposed between [58] Field of Search 223/521, 51, 57, 37 several of the die sections and a surface of the collar to be ironed. Another collar surface has another flexi- [56] References Cited ble band applied thereto as a counter-die.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1958 Nackel 223/5271 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Pmminwszems SHEET 1 [IF 5 MACHINE FOR IRONING SHIRT COLLARS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION position. Such machines present the following inconveniences: (1) They have a high price due to the multiplicity of dies and the rotary drum arrangement. (2) They have a very high demand of electric power due to the need of heating all dies or at least the ones which cover the range of collars to be ironed. In this latter case the electric layout is more complicated, because it must be changeable. (3) They generate a high quantity of heat in the die drum, which being placed near the legs of the operator, is highly inconvenient mainly in the summer. (4) The operating time of the machine is quite considerable, due to the need of turning the die drum each time we have a shirt collar which does not match the die being used at that moment. 5) If we want to have a die for each size, then the number of dies becomes excessive. This forces us to iron several sizes on the same die, although only one size is correctly adapted to the die.

It has been proposed to add, in front of a die at the usual ironing position, a sliding hook fitting an axis of symmetry of the collar, which stretches the collar to both sides of this axis, adapting it to the die and avoiding thereby that wrinkles are formed because the die has not the exact size of the collar. This process still has the inconvenience that the adjustment of the collar to the die is done by means of strong stretching, causing more or less permanent deformation of the fabric, depending on the textile material being used and the die temperature. The deformations tend to be irregularly distributed, as traction is applied during external heating and while the collar is bound between the die and the counter-die.

OBJECT AND NATURE OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of this invention to overcome these inconveniences and troubles.

The invention achieves this by a new construction, which comprises a single die, composed of interengaging parts automatically movable for expanding or contracting the die to fit the size of the collar of the shirt to be ironed. The collar itself determines the enlargement of the die. This enables the operator, in the use of the new machine to pass from one shirt to another, with larger or smaller size, without the need of any handling of the ironing die and without any stopping to adjust the dimensions.

Furthermore, the power requirements and the generated heat are reduced to a minimum, because it is only necessary to heat one die. This die can be kept away from the legs of the operator.

The new machine eliminates distortion of the fabric, because no traction is applied to same. There is only internal and external engagement of die portions with the collar, at very low pressure homogeneously distributed. In the making and reconditioning of shirts, these several advantages have major importance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS- FIG. 1 is a front view of a machine built according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof. This view, as well as FIG. 1, shows parts of the machine only in broken lines, to indicate positions of maximum and minimum opening of these parts;

FIG. 4 is a more complete perspective view of such a part of the machine,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, broken off in part and showing the machine in a different operative position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to Hg. 5, showing still another operative position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing two parts in one operative position thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG.7 showing another operative position of the same parts;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the machine in one position thereof, omitting one element of the machine to clearly show another element; and

FIG. 10 is a similar view showing another operative position of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention comprises a single die which has two arched parts 1, 2, laterally displaceable in respect to the axis of symmetry of a vertically elongate frame F whereon parts 1, 2 are mounted. The machine preferably also has a third part 13 mounted for advance and return along said axis of symmetry (FIG. 1). The parts 1, 2, l3 fit into the collar to be ironed, and are heated by suitable means (not specially identified herein). The two arched parts 1 and 2 present their interior ends with slots 3 extending through these parts in a direction perpendicular to their surfaces. The slots are parallel to and spaced from one another providing fingers 4 therebetween. The slots 3 of the symmetrically mounted die parts symmetrically receive the fingers 4 of the respective, opposed die parts. The fingers 4 thus provide symmetrical support and heat transfer to a flexible band 5 with accordingly is in contact with the die 1-2. Band 5 has one of its ends coupled to a cylinder 6 located below the two arched arms 1 and 2 rotatable about a horizontal axis or shaft 16 on frame F and centered between the arms 1, 2 so that the flexible band 5, leaving the surface of the cylinder 6 surrounds and presses against one end of one of the two displaceable parts 1, the adjacent exposed ends of this part, the corresponding surface of the facing adjacent part 2, the end of the latter part and again the cylinder 6 from which the band left. The band 5 ends in the same cylinder groove 7 where its initial part is anchored, thus constituting an endless band.

The two laterally displaceable parts 1 and 2 are rigidly secured, respectively, to the ends of two levers 8 and 9 hinged like scissors. These levers have, in an area near the center of their overall length, guide slots 10 and 1 1 receiving one end of a pin or rod 12, perpendicular to the levers and bearing the third portion 13 which serves as abutment for the dihedral angle of the collar vertex. Rod 12 is driven in axial direction, established by a longitudinal slot 5 in frame F, by a pneumatic cylinder 14 along a path suitable to the dimensions of the several sizes of the shirt collars to be ironed, so that rod 12 by its advancing and return motions, opens and closes the two scissors arms 8 and 9.

Thereby the laterally slidable die parts 1 and 2 come away from or nearer to each other; at the same time the cylinder 6 turns clockwise or anti-clockwise loosening or tightening the band and therefore allows, in one case, the lateral enlargement of the die comprising the two arched arms 1 and 2 and in other case, turning on itself, tightens the flexible band 5, following in this way the ends of the arms 8 and 9 in their movements to the inside or to the outside. Thus the die, comprising the lateral parts 1 and 2 and the axial part 13, expands up to a limit determined by the interior perimeter of the collar to be ironed. This is done with minimum power, indispensable to internally engage all parts of the collar, without tensioning it too much in order to avoid its stretching and therefore avoiding distortion of the fabllC.

Between the scissor arms 8 and 9 there is a spring to impart rotary motion of the cylinder 6 for winding the flexible band 5.

The scissor arms 8 and 9, supporting the two sliding arched parts 1 and 2 have their ends opposite to the ones having the sliding parts, jointly hinged to a single pivot 16.

As shown in the drawing a flexible counter-die band 17 is symmetrically, movably mounted on frame F, above die parts 1, 2. This band has ends coupled to hinged hooks 18 and 19 both of them driven by a pneumatic cylinder 20 through a handle 21 and a pair of pinions 22 and 23 or any other convenient and suitable device.

On downward motion of the hooks 18 and 19, as best shown in FIGS. 9, 10, the counter-die band 17 approaches the die band 5, pressing the collar against the latter. For this purpose the hooks are rocked around their pivots until they adopt the necessary angle of rotation in order to match the die shape.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 the third die portion 13 has been removed to clearly show the pin 12 supporting this die portion and engaging the slots 10, 11.

The motion of the articulated hooks l8 and 19 can also be performed by independent pneumatic cylinders. Between such cylinders we provide independent pivots for the hooks and a spring for reestablishing the angular starting position of the hooks when their pistons move back.

It will be understood that the described preferred embodiment is subject to some changes of detail, within the scope of the invention, defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for ironing shirt collars, comprising a vertically elongate frame; substantially symmetrical first and second arched heating die sections symmetrically mounted on said frame for symmetrical movements lateral of the frame to fit inner surface portions of differently sized collars to be ironed, said die sections having interengaging fingers; a flexible band extending over and supported by said arched die sections, and their fingers; and means on said frame for keeping the band taut when said die sections move relative to one another incident to said movements.

2. A machine according to claim 1 including means for winding and unwinding opposite ends of said band when said die sections move toward or away from one another incident to their said symmetrical movements lateral of the frame.

3. A machine according to claim 1 including first and second levers, both pivotally mounted on said frame and respectively, rigidly supporting said first and second die sections for said symmetrical movements.

4. A machine according to claim 3 a single, joint pivot on said frame, located symmetrically to said die sections, for the pivotal mounting of said levers.

5. A machine according to claim 4 having slots in said levers, a pin extending through said slots, means defining a longitudinal slot in said frame, and means for moving said pin longitudinally of the latter slot to move said levers and thereby to produce said movements of said die sections.

6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said means for moving said pin comprises fluid pressure actuated piston means mounted on said frame.

7. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said means for keeping said band taut includes spring means for biasing said levers.

8. A machine according to claim 7 including cylinder means mounted on said frame for winding and unwinding said band, said spring means being effective to bias said cylinder means to keep said band taut.

9. A machine according to claim 1 including a third die section symmetrically mounted on said frame and movable along a longitudinal center line which extends between said arched sections, to fit additional inner surface portions of collars to be ironed.

10. A machine according to claim 1 including a second flexible band symmetrically movably mounted on said frame and extending opposite said arched die sections, and means for symmetrically moving said second band toward said first band to wrap the second band around a collar on the first band. 

1. A machine for ironing shirt collars, comprising a vertically elongate frame; substantially symmetrical first and second arched heating die sections symmetrically mounted on said frame for symmetrical movements lateral of the frame to fit inner surface portions of differently sized collars to be ironed, said die sections having interengaging fingers; a flexible band extending over and supported by said arched die sections, and their fingers; and means on said frame for keeping the band taut when said die sections move relative to one another incident to said movements.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 including means for winding and unwinding opposite ends of said band when said die sections move toward or away from one another incident to their said symmetrical movements lateral of the frame.
 3. A machine according to claim 1 including first and second levers, both pivotally mounted on said frame and respectively, rigidly supporting said first and second die sections , for said symmetrical movements.
 4. A machine according to claim 3 a single, joint pivot on said frame, located symmetrically to said die sections, for the pivotal mounting of said levers.
 5. A machine according to claim 4 having slots in said levers, a pin extending through said slots, means defining a longitudinal slot in said frame, and means for moving said pin longitudinally of the latter slot to move said levers and thereby to produce said movements of said die sections.
 6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said means for moving said pin comprises fluid pressure actuated piston means mounted on said frame.
 7. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said means for keeping said band taut includes spring means for biasing said levers.
 8. A machine according to claim 7 including cylinder means mounted on said frame for winding and unwinding said band, said spring means being effective to bias said cylinder means to keep said band taut.
 9. A machine according to claim 1 including a third die section symmetrically mounted on said frame and movable along a longitudinal center line which extends between said arched sections, to fit additional inner surface portions of collArs to be ironed.
 10. A machine according to claim 1 including a second flexible band symmetrically movably mounted on said frame and extending opposite said arched die sections, and means for symmetrically moving said second band toward said first band to wrap the second band around a collar on the first band. 